As the smoke from the fireworks finally dissipates and Malaysia reflects on the past year’s celebrations of 50 years of nationhood, the country can look back proudly on its rapid development during the past half century. The country is politically stable—perhaps due to a smaller population—and has avoided the type of attention that its more tumultuous neighbors have attracted. As a result, visitors are often pleasantly surprised when they discover a highly developed infrastructure and an advanced economy.

A multiethnic mix may be one of the country’s greatest assets and helps define Malaysia’s uniqueness. Roughly 55 percent of the population is Malay, 25 percent Chinese and 10 percent Indian, and this diversity blends cultures together much like the mix of steamed milk poured into a cappuccino. The Ministry of Tourism’s advertising campaign slogan says: “Malaysia, Truly Asia.” The end result of this cultural cappuccino, transformed by time and experience, is what Malaysia is all about—a true melting pot and a mirror of much of Southeast Asia.

Much of the culture revolves around cuisine, and Malaysian dishes reflect the people who comprise the country. Indian, Chinese and Malay influences are all apparent. A Chinese Malay fusion known as Nyonya can be traced back to the early migrations of the settlements of Penang and Melaka.(for more on Malaysian cuisine see the article, “Malaysian cuisine goes global”).

When Malaysia took over the chair of the 57-nation Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi clearly stated Malaysia’s priorities for the three-year term. The emphasis would be to help OIC nations strengthen their economies, which in turn would give them a greater voice and more respect on the world stage.

Furthermore, Malaysia would like to help change the perception in the Western press that all Muslims are bad Muslims, a phenomenon which grew after 9/11. Malaysia’s population is 60 percent Muslim, so with its multi-ethnic, multi-religious mix, Malaysia is uniquely suited to act as a bridge and promote understanding between Islam and the West. As Prime Minister of the chair-nation of the OIC, Abdullah Badawi constantly reminds the world of the core issues that divide the West and the Islamic world.

From a financial perspective, the central bank, under the capable hands of its governor general, Zeti Aziz, has long-term plans to make Islamic banking the fastest growing part of the international financial sector and run it in parallel with conventional banking. Interestingly enough, not all clients are Muslims; about half the customers using Islamic Banking come from other faiths.

Tourism in Malaysia saw a spectacular increase in 2007, primarily due to the myriad of promotions and events revolving around the 2007-2008 Visit Malaysia Year with celebrations focusing on the 50 years of national independence. The target of 20.1 million tourists expected by Malaysia in 2007 was met and successfully surpassed. As Tengku Mansor, Malaysia’s Minister of Tourism, put it: “Malaysia is an exceptional place to visit because of our friendly and diverse population. It’s a great destination to visit if you want to be able to experience a variety of different aspects of Southeast Asia in one country. As English is widely spoken and the exchange rate is very favorable, Malaysia is an exotic destination that American travelers can visit without having to relinquish their comfort or put a dent in their wallets.”